This announcement was received at first in total silence. Then Merry flew to her father and kissed him a great many times, and Cicely kissed her mother.

Then Merry said, "We can't talk of it to-night; we can't quite realize it to-night; but--but--we are glad!"

Then she took Cicely's hand, and they went out of the room. Mr. and Mrs. Cardew watched them as the little figures approached the door.

Merry opened it, and they both pa.s.sed out.

"I wonder," said Mr. Cardew, looking at his wife, "if they are going out of our lives."

"Indeed, no," said Mrs. Cardew; "from what you have told me of Mrs.

Ward, she must be a good woman--one of the best."

"She is one of the very, very best, Sylvia; and I think the very happiest thing for us both would be to run up to town to-morrow, and for you to see her for yourself."

"Very well, darling; we will do so," said Mrs. Cardew.

CHAPTER X.

ANETA.

So everything was settled. Cicely and Merry scarcely slept at all that night. They were too much excited; the news was too wonderful. Now that their wish was granted, there was pain mingled with their joy. It seems as though perfect joy must have its modic.u.m of pain to make it perfect.

But when the next morning dawned the regret of the night before seemed to have vanished. In the first place, Mr. and Mrs. Cardew had gone early to London; and the mere fact that their father and mother were not present was a sort of relief to the excited girls. The picnic need not be postponed, for Mr. and Mrs. Tristram could act as chaperons on this auspicious occasion.

They were all to meet at the Manor at eleven o'clock; and, punctual to the hour, a goodly array of happy young people walked up the avenue and entered the porch of the old-house. Andrew, devoted to Maggie, was present. Jack, equally Maggie's slave, was also there. Maggie herself, looking neat and happy, was helping every one. Molly and Belle, all in white, and looking as charming as little girls could, were full of expectation of their long and delightful day.

One wagonette could hold the whole party, and as it drove round to the front door the boys fiercely took possession of the box-seat, fighting with the coachman, who said that there would be no room for Miss Howland to sit between them.

"Well then, Mags, if that is the case," said Peterkins, "you get along in at once, and take this corner close to me; then, whenever we want, we can do a bit of whispering."

"You won't whisper more than your share," said Jackdaw. "I've a frightful lot to say to Mags this morning."

"Hush, boys!" said Maggie; "if you quarrel about me I shall not speak to either of you."

This threat was so awful that the boys glanced at each other, remained silent and got quietly into their places. Then the hampers were put on the floor just under their feet.

Presently Cicely and Merry came out to join the group. They were wearing pretty pink muslins, with pink sashes to match. Merry's beautiful dark eyes were very bright. Mr. and Mrs. Tristram inquired for their host and hostess.

"Oh, I have news for you!" said Merry.

"Yes," said Cicely, "Merry will tell."

"Well, it's Just this," said Merry, almost jerking out her words in excitement: "Father and mother have been obliged to go rather unexpectedly to town."

"Why?" said Maggie; then she restrained herself, knowing that it was not her place to speak.

"They have gone to town," said Merry, scarcely looking at Maggie now, and endeavoring with all her might and main not to show undue excitement, "because a great and wonderful thing has happened; something so unexpected that--that Cicely and I can scarcely believe it."

Maggie glanced at the sweet little faces. She said to herself, "All right," and got calmly into the wagonette, where she sat close under the box-seat which contained those obstreperous young heroes Andrew and Jack. The others cl.u.s.tered round Merry.

"As I said, I can scarcely believe it," said Merry; "but father has done the most marvelous thing. Oh Belle! oh Molly! it is too wonderful! For after all--after all, Cicely and I are to go with you to Aylmer House in September, and--and--that is why father and mother have gone to town. Father went up yesterday and saw Mrs. Ward, and he--he settled it; and father and mother have gone up to-day--both of them--to see her, and to make final arrangements. And we're to go!

we're to _go_!"

"Hurrah!" cried Molly. Immediately the boys, and Maggie and Belle, and even Mr. and Mrs. Tristram, took up the glad "Hurrah!"

"Well, children," said Mr. Tristram when the first excitement had subsided, "I must say I am heartily pleased. This is delightful! I take some credit to myself for having helped on this most excellent arrangement."

"No one thanks me for anything," thought Maggie; but she had the prudence to remain silent.

"We had better start on our picnic now," said Mr. Tristram, and immediately the whole party climbed into the wagonette. The horses started; the wheels rolled. They were off.

By-and-by Merry felt her hand taken by Maggie. Maggie just squeezed that hand, and whispered in that very, very rich and wonderfully seductive voice of hers, "Oh, I am glad! I am very, very glad!"

Merry felt her heart thrill as Maggie uttered those words. She answered back, turning her face to her young companion, "To be with you alone would be happiness enough for me."

"Is it true, Cicely," said Mrs. Tristram at the moment, "that your cousin, Aneta Lysle, is coming to stay with you?"

"Oh yes; but I had half-forgotten it in all this excitement," said Cicely. "She will arrive to-morrow.--Maggie, you'll be glad, won't you?"

"More than delighted," said Maggie.

"It is too wonderful," said Cicely. "Why, it will soon come to pa.s.s that half Mrs. Ward's school will be all together during the holidays.

Fancy, we two, and you two"--she touched one of the Tristram girls--"and you, Maggie, and then dear Aneta; why, that'll make six.

What a lot we shall have to talk about! Maggie, you and Aneta will be our two heroines; we shall always be applying to you for information."

The conversation was here interrupted by Jackdaw, who pinched Maggie on the arm. "You're not attending to us," he said.

"Nonsense, Jackdaw!"

"Well, stand up for a minute; I want to whisper to you."

Maggie, who never lost a chance of ingratiating herself with any one, obeyed.

"Jack dear, don't be troublesome," said his mother.

"I am not," said Jackdaw. "She loves it, the duck that she is!"

"Be quick, Jackdaw; it's very difficult for me to keep my hold standing up," said Maggie.

"How many chocolates can you eat at a pinch?" whispered Jackdaw in her ear.

"Oh, forty," replied Maggie; "but I should be rather ill afterwards."

"We've got some in our pockets. They're a little bit clammy, but you don't mind that?"

"I don't want any just now, dear boy; and I'll tell you why. I want to be really starving hungry when the picnic begins."